O'Brien Not Where He Wants To Be

Matthew Griese

04/14/2014

TAMPA, FL - Tampa catcher Peter O'Brien, currently beginning his second full season of professional baseball, is off to another hot start this season. He's hitting .333 with four home runs and a slugging percentage approaching a ridiculous .700 in his first ten games, and yet the former University of Miami standout says he still wants to improve in every phase of the game.

He played sparingly in big league Spring Training camp, collecting just fifteen at-bats in ten games. He went hitless though and despite hitting very well once he was moved over to minor league camp, the whole experience allowed him to gauge where his game is currently.

"Spring training went good," O'Brien said. "It was a great experience and I had the chance to talk to a lot of the older guys and was able to pick their brains. I saw where I was at and where I wanted to be.

"I wouldn't take anything back. At the end of the day the most important thing is knowing that I am in the process of getting better and I am getting to know myself more as a baseball player."

It's no secret where the slugger needs the greatest improvement -- it's on the defensive side of the ball. Still, as good a hitter as he has proven to be in his short time with the Yankees in his one year-plus in the organization, he isn't content on that side of the ball yet either.

"[I want to improve] everything -- if I told you just one thing I would be lying to you," O'Brien said. "I've been working a lot with our new bullpen coach Gary Tuck on everything from catching, receiving, blocking, and throwing."

"His defense, that's what's going to get him to the big leagues and make him an everyday player," Tampa Yankees manager Al Pedrique added. "He's going to hit, and hit for power but his defense needs improvement. He's going to have to execute and be solid in all areas to be an everyday major league player.

"We want Pete to stay healthy, he's a strong kid and is going to be playing a lot behind the plate. We're hoping he can put up the numbers offensively and defensively, that's going to be the main thing for him.

"Keep watching him, working with him, and evaluating him on his defense. We also want him to be able to build a relationship and help the pitching staff."

Nearly everyone in the player development department has the utmost faith in O'Brien offensively, including his current coaches. And while everyone acknowledges the need for improvement defensively, they also quickly point out he continues to work extremely hard.

"My expectations for Pete are extremely high" Tampa hitting coach P.J. Pilittere said. "I want to continue to see a thirst to get better, become more consistent and ultimately make it to the big leagues."

The improvements offensively are both tangible and easily recognizable. All one has to do is look at the box scores. While he is off to an obvious tremendous start with the bat, it is his progress defensively that has caught the eye of the coaching staff thus far.

"He's doing fine," Pedrique said emphatically. "We have only played [several] games and defensively he is getting stronger, receiving better and is getting more borderline calls. He has more confidence with his abilities and is concentrating on helping the pitching staff.

"Offensively he's working on staying inside the ball and using the entire field. He's got a lot of power. Defensively he's working behind the plate and getting better.

"I thought he swung the bat well, defensively every day we saw signs that he was improving with his mechanics, receiving, blocking balls, that's one thing he worked very hard at. His throwing still has a long way to go but he's coming along just fine."

And while O'Brien himself is happy with getting off to another hot start this season offensively and with the progress he has made defensively, he is still working hard to achieve his one main goal this season.

"Be the best baseball player I can be -- I want to come out here every day and continue to get better and keep working on all the areas of my game," O'Brien concluded.

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\r\n \r\n\r\nHe played sparingly in big league Spring Training camp, collecting just fifteen at-bats in ten games. He went hitless though and despite hitting very well once he was moved over to minor league camp, the whole experience allowed him to gauge where his game is currently.\r\n\r\n\"Spring training went good,\" O'Brien said. \"It was a great experience and I had the chance to talk to a lot of the older guys and was able to pick their brains. I saw where I was at and where I wanted to be.\r\n\r\n\"I wouldn't take anything back. At the end of the day the most important thing is knowing that I am in the process of getting better and I am getting to know myself more as a baseball player.\"\r\n\r\nIt's no secret where the slugger needs the greatest improvement -- it's on the defensive side of the ball. Still, as good a hitter as he has proven to be in his short time with the Yankees in his one year-plus in the organization, he isn't content on that side of the ball yet either.\r\n\r\n\"[I want to improve] everything -- if I told you just one thing I would be lying to you,\" O'Brien said. \"I've been working a lot with our new bullpen coach Gary Tuck on everything from catching, receiving, blocking, and throwing.\"\r\n\r\n\"His defense, that's what's going to get him to the big leagues and make him an everyday player,\" Tampa Yankees manager Al Pedrique added. \"He's going to hit, and hit for power but his defense needs improvement. He's going to have to execute and be solid in all areas to be an everyday major league player.\r\n\r\n\"We want Pete to stay healthy, he's a strong kid and is going to be playing a lot behind the plate. We're hoping he can put up the numbers offensively and defensively, that's going to be the main thing for him.\r\n\r\n\"Keep watching him, working with him, and evaluating him on his defense. We also want him to be able to build a relationship and help the pitching staff.\"\r\n\r\nNearly everyone in the player development department has the utmost faith in O'Brien offensively, including his current coaches. And while everyone acknowledges the need for improvement defensively, they also quickly point out he continues to work extremely hard.\r\n\r\n\"My expectations for Pete are extremely high\" Tampa hitting coach P.J. Pilittere said. \"I want to continue to see a thirst to get better, become more consistent and ultimately make it to the big leagues.\"\r\n\r\nThe improvements offensively are both tangible and easily recognizable. All one has to do is look at the box scores. While he is off to an obvious tremendous start with the bat, it is his progress defensively that has caught the eye of the coaching staff thus far.\r\n\r\n\"He's doing fine,\" Pedrique said emphatically. \"We have only played [several] games and defensively he is getting stronger, receiving better and is getting more borderline calls. He has more confidence with his abilities and is concentrating on helping the pitching staff.\r\n\r\n\"Offensively he's working on staying inside the ball and using the entire field. He's got a lot of power. Defensively he's working behind the plate and getting better.\r\n\r\n\"I thought he swung the bat well, defensively every day we saw signs that he was improving with his mechanics, receiving, blocking balls, that's one thing he worked very hard at. His throwing still has a long way to go but he's coming along just fine.\"\r\n\r\nAnd while O'Brien himself is happy with getting off to another hot start this season offensively and with the progress he has made defensively, he is still working hard to achieve his one main goal this season.\r\n\r\n\"Be the best baseball player I can be -- I want to come out here every day and continue to get better and keep working on all the areas of my game,\" O'Brien concluded.\r\n\r\n

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